Letters: 07-23-19

Leave mountain as it is

It seems that no matter what the Hawaiians and TMT opponents do, money seems to be the over-riding factor. It’s like the ban on sunscreens. Instead of banning the harmful sunscreen now, our governor has put it of down the road when it will be too late to save our coral.

Once a place is desecrated, like the old Keauhou Beach Hotel, no matter how much funds are put into restoring it, the once existing artifacts cannot be replaced. It will be too late.

Money isn’t everything, and no one can take money to the grave, so why not do the right thing?

Leave well enough alone and leave our mountain as it is.

Colleen Miyose-Wallis

Kona

TMT relocation would be blow to state

State Sen. Kai Kahele’s recent actions haven’t helped the ongoing Thirty Meter Telescope impasse on Maunakea. Firstly, he posts on social media that the TMT’s conservation district use permit expires on Sept. 26, 2019. This revelation has given the protesters additional reason to stonewall this project until then, which doesn’t help law enforcement, or the protesters, for that matter.

Sen. Kahele has also advocated for a moratorium, or “cooling off period,” of 60 days on the start of construction. This moratorium would expire uncomfortably close to the two-year end of the CDUP mandated start of construction. It shouldn’t be surprising though, as he is strongly opposed to astronomy on Maunakea. He’d rather let the Canary Islands get this telescope, which will slowly kill astronomy on Maunakea.

The backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope have been more than patient during the past 10 years. They’ve successful fended off all legal challenges thus far. The courts have ultimately given their authorization that construction can begin, but instead we have a repeat the 2015 protests over again. In addition, we have state senator on a mission to destroy astronomy as we know it on Maunakea.

Sen. Kahele, Hawaii needs good, high paying, jobs. The telescopes on Maunakea provide those jobs, and a much-needed economic boost to the state totaling in the millions of dollars. Hawaii desperately needs that economic balance, especially when we we’re so dependent on tourism, construction, and military.

If the backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope decide to relocate to the Canary Islands because of these ongoing protests, it will be devastating blow to astronomy on Maunakea, and to the State of Hawaii.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona

Respect the rule of law

With care, I read and reread Sen. Kai Kahele’s comments as reported in Friday’s West Hawaii Today. Sen. Kahele is pointblank telling us that the state should abdicate its rule of law, its due process, and its judicial system to the demands of a small, angry and passionate minority. That way lies anarchy.

There is no rational basis to believe that another 60 days of delay, as suggested by Sen. Kahele, will result in any change whatsoever in the protesters’ positions. They have made that clear. They will most certainly not “cool off.” They will instead celebrate any concession, accept it as proof that their tactics are effective, and will double-down on those very same tactics.

Perhaps, though, the most baffling of the would-be Congressman’s comments was “I think it’s time to have meaningful conversations … . “ What? Has he not followed the multiple hearings and meetings over the years inviting public comments on everything from the mountain’s management to the permit conditions? Were those not “meaningful?” What about all the repeated modifications made to those plans, including de-commissioning of five existing telescopes and changes to the TMT’s design? He dismisses all those efforts? Not “meaningful” enough for him?

We get that the senator personally opposes the construction of the TMT on Maunakea. The last time I checked, though, he— just like everyone else here — is bound to respect our rule of law. He and the protesters may most certainly express their opinions, and we should listen with respect. But neither he nor the protesters may require that the rest of us submit, especially not after the lengthy processes approving this project have ground to their fair conclusions. At some point, perhaps the senator and the protesters might consider listening with respect to what our courts, our process, and our majority have to say.

Daniel F. Knox

Kailua-Kona

Put it to the vote

With respect to the TMT telescope, since we presently live under a democracy, why not let the residents of Hawaii vote in a special election if they want another telescope, or not?

Carl Merner

Holualoa

Newspaper’s TMT coverage lacks balance

After reading last week’s West Hawaii Today coverage of the TMT story, I’m disappointed at its apparent lack of balance. Whereas the print and photographic descriptions of the protesters’ activities have been over the top by any standard, there has been an almost complete lack of press elaborating the considerable scientific and economic benefits arising from the construction of the telescope, as well as the extensive legal process authorizing it. I believe you do a disservice to all your readers and the people in the County and State of Hawaii by providing slanted news on a very important matter.

Tom Keefe

Waimea

Islands here long before people

Maunakea, Mauna Loa, all of the Hawaiian Islands and all of the volcanoes that make them up were here long before Polynesians or anyone else appeared on the scene. What gives Hawaiians the right to call all of this theirs?

These Polynesians brought plants and animals to these islands. They also brought religion and wars. They started building their homes and making trails around these islands, changing the islands from their original peaceful existence with no humans to interfere.

Humans have been changing the islands to their own benefit and way of thinking for centuries, but then they don’t want anyone else coming along and changing things. Everyone wants to keep everything here the same as it is now with no more additions or changes. What gives them this right to be this selfish?

Elizabeth Purse

Waimea

Preserve and protect the native forest

I live at the edge of the Ohia forest in Kealakekua. The last couple of years the beautiful silence has been shattered by growling bulldozers, the metallic clang of jack hammers and the straining engines of large trucks.

The forest has already suffered the ravages of introduced pests, diseases and invasive species. Now it is enduring the onslaught of man and his land clearing monstrosities.

Landowners should preserve and protect the native forest, not clear hundreds of acres for profit. Trees that have taken hundreds of years to mature fall with one sweep of the bulldozer’s blade. With them goes a fragile ecosystem of indigenous plants and animals that evolved to coexist within the forest.

Those who indiscriminately destroy native forest for profit show no respect for the environment or the people who call these islands home. Our forest is priceless and irreplaceable and if we allow it to be the victim of greed and ignorance, everyone loses.

Tami Warren

Kealakekua

Filthy park bathrooms leave bad lasting impression

On June 23, West Hawaii Today published our letter concerning the deplorable conditions of bathrooms, port-a-potties and lack of water at both Mahukona and Kapaa county beach parks. We sent the same letter to the mayor … and as expected not a word from anyone in his office.

We did hear from local friends who saw the letter to the editor and agreed with us completely and even told us that there has been money allocated for improvements of these beach facilities but not to expect anything to happen any time soon.

Tourism is the biggest economic engine on this island. What a pathetic lasting impression for visitors to take home: filthy park bathrooms.

John and Kathy Arroyo

Kailua-Kona

Welcome to Hawaii

Welcome to Hawaii.

Turn you clocks back 3 hours and your calendar 300 years.

Vicky Halquist

Kailua-Kona